Birmingham, AL Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew age
- Under 17, not emancipated
- Weeknight hours
- 9:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m., Sun-Thu
- Weekend/holiday hours
- 11:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.
- First/second offense fine
- $500.00 each
- Third offense (parent)
- $500 fine plus up to 6 months jail
Summary
Birmingham bars minors under 17 from public places during school hours, from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and city holidays. Parents, custodians and business operators who knowingly allow a violation face the same $500.00 fines as the minor.
(b)Offenses.(1)It shall be unlawful for a minor to remain in a public place or in or upon the premises of an establishment:a.During city school system scheduled school hours;b.From 9:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday until 6:00 a.m. of the following day;c.From 11:00 p.m. on any Friday, Saturday or the official city holiday as declared by the mayor until 6:00 a.m. of the following day. ... (d)Penalties.(1)... Upon receiving a citation for an initial violation of this section within any 12-month period, a violator shall be required to appear in court and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of $500.00.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
Birmingham Code of Ordinances Sec. the next day. It is also unlawful for a parent or custodian to knowingly permit, or negligently fail to control, a minor's violation, and for an establishment's operator or employees to knowingly let a minor remain on the premises during curfew; establishments must conspicuously post the curfew hours or face their own violation. The ordinance lists specific defenses, including being accompanied by a parent, on a direct errand, in interstate travel, coming home from work or a supervised school or religious activity within an hour by a direct route, involved in an emergency, on the property where the minor lives, or exercising First Amendment rights.
Before citing anyone, an officer must ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being out, and may only proceed if no defense applies; when several children under the same parent are involved in one incident, only one citation issues to that parent. The police department and municipal court must report curfew enforcement statistics, including race, to the city council every six months, and gang-related curfew violations must be reported separately.
Violations & Fines
A first violation within any 12-month period draws a mandatory court appearance and, on conviction, a $500.00 fine; a second violation within the same 12-month period is also a $500.00 fine. A third or subsequent violation within 12 months carries a $500.00 fine, and a parent or custodian convicted of a third or subsequent violation faces a $500.00 fine and up to six months in jail, hard labor, or both, though the court may suspend or probate the sentence and may order parenting classes instead of or alongside a fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Birmingham
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